How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Bonita Springs

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, there are a lot of people in Bonita Springs just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. Because you have many auto insurance companies to choose from, it's nearly impossible to find the cheapest company.

Finding affordable coverage in Bonita Springs is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Florida drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to compare company rates over the internet.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of extra coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
With age comes lower rates - Teen drivers in Florida are known to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Traffic violations increase rates - A bad driving record has a big impact on rates. Even one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. If you have flagrant violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
Adjust deductibles and save - Your deductibles define the amount you are required to spend in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every discount very well, so we researched both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you don't get every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
Driver Safety - Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
No Charge for an Accident - Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.

It's important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Florida, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Florida consumers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing of big savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Find out more about auto insurance

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include this site for auto insurance rates in Florida and this list of insurance agents in Bonita Springs, FL.

In the end, you save

Low-cost auto insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Bonita Springs agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, don't be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.